January 2020

The Alpine Power Duo Is the Best Affordable Upgrade You Can Make for Your Car Stereo

The biggest upgrade you can make to your car stereo these days is adding Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. Alpine’s ILX-W650 is a best-in-class in-dash digital multimedia receiver that is compatible with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in a shallow chassis with a 7″ capacitive touchscreen. Paired with Alpine’s KTA-450 amplifier, the value and features can’t be beaten.


Pitaka’s Air Case for iPhone 11 Is Thin and Light

At just .6mm thin, the Pitaka Air Case Collection lets you protect your iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max without adding weight or bulk. That’s great if you prefer to use your iPhone unencumbered by a case but still want to protect it. Let’s take a look.


Take Reliefband 2.0 on Your Next Cruise, a Second Look Review

A few years ago, Raina convinced me to take a cruise. I’ve never had any interest in such a vacation, but, much to my surprise, I enjoyed it. Since then we’ve taken several additional cruises. The only problem? I get seasick. Thankfully, for our last cruise, I had the opportunity to try the Reliefband 2.0. Let’s take a look.





Mophie Juice Pack Access for iPhone 11 Pro Review

We started 2020 with some amazing giveaways, and we don’t see any reason to slow down now. Today’s giveaway is the mophie juice pack access for the iPhone 11 Pro, a battery case that adds and up to 13 hours of audio or 5 hours of video; mophie’s latest offering is just $79.95 and can be yours.



The V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Master Updates a Classic

The original Crossfade M-100 I reviewed are still going strong. Now, however, their price has dropped to an MSRP of just $150. That’s a bargain for an incredible pair of wired headphones. The new V-MODA Crossfade M-100 Master is an update to the original. They look similar but have a few important updates that make them compelling.



Kingston HyperX SAVAGE EXO Portable Solid-State Drive Is Thin, Light and Fast

A few years ago, I realized none of my mobile devices used a mechanical drive any longer. Not only did my iPhone and iPad used solid-state drives, but both my MacBook Pro and iMac had shed the mechanical drives. My external drives, however, were another story. Now, thanks to Kingston’s HyperX SAVAGE EXO SSD, my external drive has joined the party.


Austere Releases High-End 8K HDMI 2.1 Cable

As 8K televisions begin to gain traction, the need for cables able to handle huge amounts of data continues to grow. Austere, a new company we told you about a few months ago, is ready for the revolution. Their new 8K HDMI 2.1 cables can handle 48 Gbps with style. They look great but come at a price.



Nomad Base Station Stand Offers Convenient Power When You Need It

A few weeks ago, I shared the news that our friends at Nomad had released a new wireless charging stand. The Nomad Base Station Stand is a premium wireless charger whose thoughtful design and premium features make it stand out in an ever-more crowded market. Now that I have one in and I can share some of my personal impressions.


Lenovo ThinkBook 13s Boast Stellar Specs with Harmon Audio Included

Full transparency, I’ve been enamored by Apple’s Ecosystem for so long, that I’ve almost had to challenge myself to step outside of my normal way of thinking to embrace that there are more affordable, more capable options out there. Over the course of the last few months, I’ve been checking out Lenovo’s ThinkBook 13s as my Daily Driver, and let me tell you, it is one great utility laptop.